(Al-Bireh - 26/9/2017): President Dr. Younis Al Khatib and its Director General Dr. Khaled Joudeh received his Excellency the Ambassador of Japan in Palestine Mr. Takesi Okuba and his accompanying delegation at the Society’s headquarters in Al-Bireh. Discussions centered around means to enhance cooperation between both parties to better serve Palestinians.
Drs. Al Khatib and Joudeh accompanied their guests on a visit to the Society’s departments in order to get better acquainted with their programs and services in the health and social fields. Dr. Al Khatib spoke at length about the health, rehabilitation and capacity development services offered by PRCS as well as its programs which aim at engaging youths and local communities in the Society’s programs and plans. He lauded the support provided by Japan to Palestinians which is clearly reflected in the many projects implemented with the help of Japan throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Ambassador Okuba underlined the deep and historic ties between the Palestinian and Japanese peoples, and recalled that Japanese support to Palestine started in 1953 when Japan offered assistance to Palestinians in refugee camps. He commended the great efforts made by the Society in general and its young staff in particular especially in the besieged Gaza Strip where conditions are extremely difficult. Ambassador Okuba lauded services provided under the Public Health in Emergencies and Violence Prevention Project which ended recently, and affirmed that support shall continue to be provided to PRCS’ programs in the Gaza Strip.
The Public Health in Emergencies and Violence Prevention Project was implemented with the support of the Japanese government through IFRC. It targeted hundreds of children and women in the Gaza Strip and reached out to approximately 12 000 beneficiaries.
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